Yam cult figure "minja" ·  Papua New Guinea - Washkuk Hills - East Sepik Province, Kwoma · ID: 3041703

Description

wood, black patina, carved with prominent face of an ancestor spirit “yena”, the raised vertical ridge representing a snake, dam., missing parts and cracks (above all at the lower left rim), insect caused damage backside, abrasion of paint;
“minja” embody male water spirits that are believed to promote the growth of yams. They are displayed in pairs, highly ornamented like the “yena”, against a biconical heap of newly-harvested yams, immediately following the “yena” ceremony. There is a day and night of singing and dancing accompanied by slit-gongs, bullroarers and bamboo trumpets.

The object Yam cult figure “minja” with the object ID 3041703 was last part of the auction 85th Tribal Art Auction at March 4, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 42.

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Comparing literature

Craig, Barry (ed.), Living spirits with fixed abodes, Honolulu 2010, p. 107 ff.